Stockton- Though 2025 is coming to a close, it doesn’t mean that things are getting any less hectic at Lincoln High School. If anything, the coming of winter signals the approach of the most jam-packed season of the school year, with winter finals, projects, college signups, and the numerous extracurricular all bouncing between each other to occupy as much of students’ time as possible. In all of this chaos, however, there is a calm in the midst of the storm: the Lincoln High Orchestra’s annual winter concert.
Let’s set the stage: Lincoln’s Orchestra program has, much like its band program, had a long and storied existence providing the school and community with wondrous tunes and technical prowess. However, for many unfamiliar with the Orchestra or uncomfortable with orchestral music, watching and listening to their concerts can seem like a daunting, and ultimately worthless way to spend time. This couldn’t be further from the truth; while not as well-renowned as their band peers, the Orchestra at Lincoln is more than able to hold its own and provide audiences with a winter concert that is equal parts exciting, heartwarming, and beautiful, and it is one of the most accessible opportunities to jump into the music.
For the sake of learning more about the Orchestra and this upcoming concert, the Lincolnian interviewed two sophomore Orchestra students, Jose and Skyler, who had some strong insight and exciting news to add about the concert. Jose, a cello player involved with orchestra for the past 6 years, and Skyler, a violinist involved with orchestra for the last 7 years, both joined orchestra based on “being curious about it, once we joined it just became really fun”. Throughout the interview, this point about the fun being had and the curiosity they each had towards their instruments was reiterated at numerous points, continuing to show how much fun this activity is for those involved, as well as the audience.
When asked about the concert, Jose went on to say, “It’s free! We’ll be playing a Christmas piece, a slow piece, and another mystery piece,” with Skyler going on to clarify that, “We’re starting out with a piece to open it up, to show the different things we can do. In the middle is our slow piece, and at the end will be a long, large scale and ambitious piece to show off all of the things we can do.” The concert will also encompass all levels of the orchestra, bringing together the entire orchestra community for one big concert, halfway through the school year. With the evident ambition and drive in that interview showing the determination of the orchestra, it’s clear that this concert is bound to be something special.
